From the time my son was 8 years old he spent hours throwing against a brick wall near our home. He wanted to be a pitcher and the best he could be. I didn't have the knowledge to teach him proper mechanic so I took him to a pitching coach hoping if he learned proper mechanics he would avoid injury.
He was a smart pitcher but soon became obsessed with fast ball speed. As a sophomore he was throwing 84 to 86 mph and yet had great control and a challenging change up. Preparing for his junior year he started getting pain in his shoulder that would only happen when throwing. He could lift weights, swing a bat and even make a throwing motion with no pain but once he tried throwing with a ball the pain was unbearable. No weakness just pain.
Cortizone shot, physical therapy and finally surgery was attempted and he missed his junior year playing. The Doctor we chose was considered the best in the state. He was negative about pitching from the start saying most of his clients were pitchers and he would recommend playing any other position. We stayed with him as we were told even though he was negative he was still the best. After the operation he said he did not see much of an issue and basically did a clean up. We were prepared for anchoring and a labrum repair. More physical therapy and when it came time to throw guess what? Same pain. The Doctor said he did the minimum he thought would fix the problem and we could always go in again. My out of pocket was almost 10,000 and my son became so disillusioned with the Doctor and the experience that he decided trying again was nothing more than false hope.
He is playing his senior year and hitting well. He can throw but not pitch and as it looks never will again.
So what would I do different in hind sight:
1. I would make sure my son understood that speed will come when your body can handle it and don't push it too soon.
2. I would take him to a quality physical therapist once or twice a year for an evaluation to make sure he is not starting to have issues you can't see or tell from throwing.
3. I would get a second opinion before surgery and find a Doctor that wants pitchers in the world
4. Stress the back up plan. Our kids are all one injury away from their back up plan.
I hope this helps.
He was a smart pitcher but soon became obsessed with fast ball speed. As a sophomore he was throwing 84 to 86 mph and yet had great control and a challenging change up. Preparing for his junior year he started getting pain in his shoulder that would only happen when throwing. He could lift weights, swing a bat and even make a throwing motion with no pain but once he tried throwing with a ball the pain was unbearable. No weakness just pain.
Cortizone shot, physical therapy and finally surgery was attempted and he missed his junior year playing. The Doctor we chose was considered the best in the state. He was negative about pitching from the start saying most of his clients were pitchers and he would recommend playing any other position. We stayed with him as we were told even though he was negative he was still the best. After the operation he said he did not see much of an issue and basically did a clean up. We were prepared for anchoring and a labrum repair. More physical therapy and when it came time to throw guess what? Same pain. The Doctor said he did the minimum he thought would fix the problem and we could always go in again. My out of pocket was almost 10,000 and my son became so disillusioned with the Doctor and the experience that he decided trying again was nothing more than false hope.
He is playing his senior year and hitting well. He can throw but not pitch and as it looks never will again.
So what would I do different in hind sight:
1. I would make sure my son understood that speed will come when your body can handle it and don't push it too soon.
2. I would take him to a quality physical therapist once or twice a year for an evaluation to make sure he is not starting to have issues you can't see or tell from throwing.
3. I would get a second opinion before surgery and find a Doctor that wants pitchers in the world
4. Stress the back up plan. Our kids are all one injury away from their back up plan.
I hope this helps.
